Local politicians, police satisfy their need for speed

Trucks line up Thursday at the starting line at the No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose. The racetrack is hosting a national event this weekend.

ABBY TABOR/NYTRNG

By RAYMOND LEGENDRENYT Regional Newspapers

Published: Friday, April 20, 2007 at 10:58 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 20, 2007 at 11:25 a.m.

BELLE ROSE -- On a day when the only thing hotter than the sun beating down on the sticky asphalt at No Problem Raceway was the trash talk surrounding the track, Assumption Parish Tax Assessor Wayne "Cat" Blanchard reigned supreme among his fellow novice competitors.

His success came thanks to his instinctive right foot and unshakable bravado.

Blanchard edged 2006 "Celebrity/Media Drag Race" champion Darlene Landry, Assumption Parish’s clerk of court, in the quarterfinals, then two rounds later scored an easy win in the final over Lafourche Parish sheriff’s spokesman Larry Weidel, who was disqualified for leaving the starting line too soon.

The fifth-annual invitational held Thursday featured politicians, police officers, soldiers and the media.

The race, which was sponsored by Southland Dodge, was held to promote this weekend’s JEGS.com NHRA Cajun Sportsnationals at the raceway and to introduce local "celebrities" to the track, located on La. 996.

Dealership owner Joe Teuton said the trucks, which feature Hemi engines and are his top seller, were used to "make it a driver’s race."

Most drivers covered the quarter-mile in the high-15-second or low-16-second range, and reached speeds of 83-85 mph. There were no crashes on the straightaway, which features a padded wall along each side to reduce the risk of injury.

In essence, the only things trading paint were the egos of the competitors.

After watching Weidel leave early, and being disqualified, Blanchard pumped his fist in celebration as he motored down the straightaway. The assessor finished in a time of 15.828 seconds. Afterward, Blanchard thanked all the "little people" who sponsored the race -- JEGS.com, Southland Dodge and Pat Joffrion, No Problem’s owner.

A pair of Iraq War veterans who failed to make the final echoed Dartez’s sentiments.

"This is fantastic," said Capt. William Saint, of the 928 Sapper Unit out of Napoleonville.

Saint, a member of the National Guard, spent from October 2004 to November 2005 in Iraq as a combat engineer.

Nearby, Sgt. Shayne Bellina, also of the 928 Sapper Unit, said he wanted to lower his time of 15.761 by two-tenths of a second. He added he had noticed one of the trucks ran faster than the others because it had less fuel in its tank.

Joffrion noticed the same thing, eventually pulling the truck once the competition dwindled down to four racers.

While most competitors switched trucks with each race, Blanchard stuck with his lucky black truck from the quarterfinals all the way into victory lane.

<p>BELLE ROSE -- On a day when the only thing hotter than the sun beating down on the sticky asphalt at No Problem Raceway was the trash talk surrounding the track, Assumption Parish Tax Assessor Wayne "Cat" Blanchard reigned supreme among his fellow novice competitors.</p><p>His success came thanks to his instinctive right foot and unshakable bravado.</p><p>Blanchard edged 2006 "Celebrity/Media Drag Race" champion Darlene Landry, Assumption Parish’s clerk of court, in the quarterfinals, then two rounds later scored an easy win in the final over Lafourche Parish sheriff’s spokesman Larry Weidel, who was disqualified for leaving the starting line too soon.</p><p>The fifth-annual invitational held Thursday featured politicians, police officers, soldiers and the media.</p><p>The race, which was sponsored by Southland Dodge, was held to promote this weekend’s JEGS.com NHRA Cajun Sportsnationals at the raceway and to introduce local "celebrities" to the track, located on La. 996.</p><p>Participants covered the quarter-mile strip in 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn Edition trucks provided by Southland Dodge in Houma.</p><p>Dealership owner Joe Teuton said the trucks, which feature Hemi engines and are his top seller, were used to "make it a driver’s race."</p><p>Most drivers covered the quarter-mile in the high-15-second or low-16-second range, and reached speeds of 83-85 mph. There were no crashes on the straightaway, which features a padded wall along each side to reduce the risk of injury.</p><p>In essence, the only things trading paint were the egos of the competitors.</p><p>After watching Weidel leave early, and being disqualified, Blanchard pumped his fist in celebration as he motored down the straightaway. The assessor finished in a time of 15.828 seconds. Afterward, Blanchard thanked all the "little people" who sponsored the race -- JEGS.com, Southland Dodge and Pat Joffrion, No Problem’s owner.</p><p>"When you’re working with Pat Joffrion, everything is ëno problem,’ " Blanchard said. "Today’s race was no problem for ëCat’ Blanchard."</p><p>Landry nearly wiped the smile off Blanchard’s face in the quarterfinals.</p><p>"Close doesn’t count," said Landry, who lost by four-hundredths of a second. "It only counts in horseshoes."</p><p>Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre also had a shorter day than expected after he started early on his second run. Webre finished second last year and first in 2003.</p><p>"I either lose quick or win," he said. "Today I beat myself by red lighting."</p><p>The narrow margin between excellence and disappointment is one of the things that attracted the sheriff to racing, he said.</p><p>Webre, who recently purchased a 1969 Ford Shelby GT-500, added that he wouldn’t race that car until it got "chips in the paint or cracks in the windshield."</p><p>While the sheriff lamented his early exit, state Rep. Carla Blanchard Dartez, D-Morgan City, exalted in hers.</p><p>It freed up time for her to get to Napoleonville, where a 100-year-old time capsule was being opened on the courthouse steps.</p><p>Dartez called the race "exhilarating" and raved about its calming effects.</p><p>"I didn’t lose in my mind," Dartez said, adding she wants to go back next year. "I am stress free."</p><p>A pair of Iraq War veterans who failed to make the final echoed Dartez’s sentiments.</p><p>"This is fantastic," said Capt. William Saint, of the 928 Sapper Unit out of Napoleonville.</p><p>Saint, a member of the National Guard, spent from October 2004 to November 2005 in Iraq as a combat engineer.</p><p>Nearby, Sgt. Shayne Bellina, also of the 928 Sapper Unit, said he wanted to lower his time of 15.761 by two-tenths of a second. He added he had noticed one of the trucks ran faster than the others because it had less fuel in its tank.</p><p>Joffrion noticed the same thing, eventually pulling the truck once the competition dwindled down to four racers.</p><p>While most competitors switched trucks with each race, Blanchard stuck with his lucky black truck from the quarterfinals all the way into victory lane.</p><p>"I look good in black," he reasoned.</p>